BBC News Online: World: Europe

Russian protest at proposed gay ban

Russian gay activists have staged a protest outside the lower house of parliament, the State Duma.

They were objecting to an amendment put forward by a group of deputies which would make homosexuality a crime, punishable by up to five years in prison.

The protesters wore concentration camp-style uniforms, decorated with pink stars - to draw attention to the fact that homosexuality was illegal in both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

A BBC correspondent says that, at a time when President Putin is concerned about Russia's image abroad, it is inconceivable that the proposed gay ban could be put on the statute book.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service